Recordpub.com - Mom seeks to ban book in Ravenna Parent says material too adult for students

By Jason De Leon

Record-Courier staff writer

Because of a parent"s formal complaint, a national award winning young adult novel currently is under the microscope of the Ravenna Board of Education.

Angela Calo, mother of a seventh-grader at Brown Middle School is requesting "America," a novel by E.R. Frank, be withdrawn from the district, according to the written complaint submitted to the superintendent"s office.

"What we kept finding and going over was sexual content and profanity," Calo said. "Yes, we decided it was not suitable for any child."

The novel, which deals mostly with the effects of childhood trauma, was part of a free reading library in the classroom of Cathy Adler, who teaches gifted and talented students at Brown Middle School. It is not, however, on any required reading lists within the city"s school district.

Before allowing students to read the novel, Adler informed students the novel had "raw material," according to Calo.

The author of the novel and licensed clinical social worker with post master"s experience and training in trauma has been counseling for 15 years.

"If a parent chooses to screen what their child is reading it is all right," Frank said Tuesday.

"I don"t think one parent"s decision should limit others from reading it in the community," she added. "My style of writing is that I try to convey as much authenticity as I can. While it is unfortunate and may be disturbing, foul language and clinical references to body parts and sexual violence exist in our world and for our children, which is very sad but it is real. I do not try to write to be a sensationalist."

The novel"s main character, America, is a 15 year-old male who experienced a series of traumatic events as a child and is seeking guidance from his psychologist.

According to Calo, the novel talks about child abuse, sexual and mental abuse and it should be intended for college level students or higher.

According to Calo"s request in the formal in complaint, "America" should be replaced by a novel that "has the same story line without profanity and sexual orientation," she said.

"The book has inappropriate language and sexual activities, such as masturbation that is for adult content only," Calo added.

The formal complaint filed by Calo is a first for Superintendent Tim Calfee, who has been with the district for 6 years.

"We will review it according to our policy," Calfee said. "(The school"s administration) is reading the book. The reviews are actually pretty positive."

"The book deals with problems that unfortunately are all too common in our society but they are types of things you hear about on the news everyday," he added.

A committee will review the book and report to the school board with a recommendation.

Frank has experienced other similar cases including a school district in California that reviewed her novel.

"Several students came to the committee (in California) and testified if (the school district) banned the book they would be trying to deny the very same experiences that students have had," Frank said. "The book was not banned based on their testimony. I am touched they came forward."

"America" has received several awards including the New York Times Notable Book Award. It also was a Garden State Teen Book Award nominee. Actress and childhood neglect advocate Rosie O"Donnell has drafted a screenplay intended for its adaptation as a film.

Calo also is concerned with two novels expected to be on next year"s approved reading list for the school district, "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson and "Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes" by Chris Crutcher.

"Speak" already has been withdrawn from Aurora City School District, according to Calo.

"Books shouldn"t be censored by the distress of one parent," Frank said. "I am honored to be in the same company (of authors Anderson and Crutcher)."

Each novel addresses issues dealing with childhood trauma.

More than 1 million children in the country are assaulted, robbed or raped each year. Every year, three to 10 million children in the U.S. are exposed to domestic violence, according to Children"s Advantage in Ravenna.

More than 25 percent of the nation"s youth experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, also according to Children"s Advantage.

For child trauma area clinic information contact Children"s Advantage at (330) 296-5552.

35.	Posted by BluBublz May 10, 2007
	Ok, let's review the REAL facts~ 1. The mother never, ever, said what everyone else gets to read. IF you really want to read the book, go out and buy the stupid thing. 2. The mother still hasn't won what she wanted. 3. The book has yet to be banned. 4. Kids may have been mad at the daughter, but they never threatened her. 5.The daughter may be under Adler's umbrella of protection, but that doesn't mean she needs it. She is a big girl, and could take care of herself. 6. And puh-leeeze, what mother hasn't cursed at their child, and when Mrs. Calo would never seriously mean they were going to h**l. If anyone is going to, it will be you stupid people that won't drop the fricken subject! She is 13 fricken years old, i dont think you parents would want PARENTS ganging up on your child. It's just plain stupid. 7. The only reason she went on t.v was to make parents aware of the fact that she doesn't like what her daughter read and... 8. None of this crap is about Mrs. Adler, so you people ganging up on Alainee need to stop trying to protect Mrs. Adler because no one was after her in the first place. 9. Banning this book would not be unAmerican, it would be right according to the constitution. Again, if you want to read the fricken book, then read the thing. 10. Everyone who has had Adler, you're all right. She is a great teacher, i happen to have her now. Mrs. Adler has her own say in what happens too. Stop ganging on Alainee, for heaven's sake. 11. Tell me that none of you, who all have posted comments, have cursed or said things that shouldn't have been said?? Prolly all of you, and so have I for that matter. But so what, who cares?? It wasn't just the cursing that was brought up in the book. It was the graphic content. 12. Mrs. Calo never announced that no other person could read this book, if you want your child to be taught the birds and the bees through a book, that is you decision, I bet Mrs. Calo just assumed we actually have some un-lazy parents living in Ravenna, but apparently not. 13. Mrs. Calo has truly been a parent to me, on my part anyways. She is one of the best in Ravenna..... And if you can't see that, then i guess you don't know how to look at it through someone else's eyes. !!!!!!!~NEWS FLASH~!!!!!!! People, it's done, it's over with. GET OVER IT!!!!!! It's now in the hands of people on the school board. And, in my opinion, if you're not on the school board it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!! LEAVE ALAINEE OUT OF THIS, ALONG WITH MRS. ADLER AND MRS. CALO. Thanks, Julia

34.	Posted by BluBublz May 10, 2007
	Ok, let's review the REAL facts~ 1. The mother never, ever, said what everyone else gets to read. IF you really want to read the book, go out and buy the stupid thing. 2. The mother still hasn't won what she wanted. 3. The book has yet to be banned. 4. Kids may have been mad at the daughter, but they never threatened her. 5.The daughter may be under Adler's umbrella of protection, but that doesn't mean she needs it. She is a big girl, and could take care of herself. 6. And puh-leeeze, what mother hasn't cursed at their child, and when Mrs. Calo would never seriously mean they were going to h**l. If anyone is going to, it will be you stupid people that won't drop the fricken subject! She is 13 fricken years old, i dont think you parents would want PARENTS ganging up on your child. It's just plain stupid. 7. The only reason she went on t.v was to make parents aware of the fact that she doesn't like what her daughter read and... 8. None of this crap is about Mrs. Adler, so you people ganging up on Alainee need to stop trying to protect Mrs. Adler because no one was after her in the first place. 9. Banning this book would not be unAmerican, it would be right according to the constitution. Again, if you want to read the fricken book, then read the thing. 10. Everyone who has had Adler, you're all right. She is a great teacher, i happen to have her now. Mrs. Adler has her own say in what happens too. Stop ganging on Alainee, for heaven's sake. 11. Tell me that none of you, who all have posted comments, have cursed or said things that shouldn't have been said?? Prolly all of you, and so have I for that matter. But so what, who cares?? It wasn't just the cursing that was brought up in the book. It was the graphic content. 12. Mrs. Calo never announced that no other person could read this book, if you want your child to be taught the birds and the bees through a book, that is you decision, I bet Mrs. Calo just assumed we actually have some un-lazy parents living in Ravenna, but apparently not. 13. Mrs. Calo has truly been a parent to me, on my part anyways. She is one of the best in Ravenna..... And if you can't see that, then i guess you don't know how to look at it through someone else's eyes. !!!!!!!~NEWS FLASH~!!!!!!! People, it's done, it's over with. GET OVER IT!!!!!! It's now in the hands of people on the school board. And, in my opinion, if you're not on the school board it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!! LEAVE ALAINEE OUT OF THIS, ALONG WITH MRS. ADLER AND MRS. CALO. Thanks, Julia

32.	Posted by Adler's student April 27, 2007
	Oooooo, touchy. It sure looks like if you tell the truth in Ravenna, you make people mad. OK, lets review the facts. 1. The book America has won awards and is written for ages 12 and up. 2. The book was not required. The daughter picked it up herself. 3. The teacher told the girl it had cursing. 4. The parent broght the book to the school and demanded it be taken from the room forever. 5. Even though its dumb for one mother to say what everyone else gets to read, the book left the room and the teacher said it wouldn't go back in. 6. The mother won what she wanted. 7. The mother went to the superintendent, the tv stations, the papers, and the other parents to keep complaining. 8. The mother puts her daughter in the paper and on tv. 9. Students get mad and threaten the daughter. 10. Students hear from Adler that it isn't about the daughter and she should be left alone cause she didn't do anything. The daughter is officaly under Adler's umbrella of protection, so we leave her alone. 11. The mother uses the curses herself. 12. The mother already has the book gone keeps complaining. She goes to a school board meeting so she can read the words to them. Since the mother had the book gone in March, why is she still fighting and making it all public ? what is she after if it isn't adler? You can call me white trash punk all you want. You can say of course I am abused cause I live in Ravenna. But I notice you can't answer my question.

30.	Posted by klg_angel April 18, 2007
	Alright, I've read the book. All your trying to ban 'America' it made me want to do is read it. Yeah, its descriptive, and not for little goodie goodies to read. Oh, and, 'daughter' stupid girl who read the book? Mrs. Adler warns all her students that her books have some material that could be disturbing. She's the best teacher in the world. Without her, Ravenna School District WOULD BE NOTHING. She's the most intelligent teacher I've met. If you think the book is so bad, why didn't you read it? Usually, when I'm looking for something to read, I look at the back of the cover for a summary of the book, or on the inside pocket, depending on where it is. You were in no way forced to read the book. I don't care if Mrs. Adler reccomended it! She should have! Its a good book! But just because someone reccomends a book to you, DOES NOT mean you HAVE to read it. Ms. Calo, you're a disgrace to Ravenna. We have enough students drop out because they go through abuse and their parents make them believe the can't do anything. By reading, they'll learn that there're ways to handle abuse. I know for a fact that my mother would HAPPILY FORCE ME TO READ THE BOOK!!!! Because she wants me to be educated. She's not going to shield me from the real world, because I'm "too young" or too immature. You parents need to realize that we're a lot more mature than you were when you were our age. We have to be! There's no way we can survive otherwise. Ms. Calo, I don't care that you dissapprove of the book. You found the book innappropriate for your daughter. If it was a book she wasn't allowed to read, then PUNISH HER! She willingly and knowingly read the book. No one forced her to. So don't punish everyone else. Thanks. To the school board, don't banish this book. Its an insult to abused children everywhere. Thanks. Ravenna High School Freshman, and ex-student of Mrs. Cathy Adler: Kirstie Graham We all love you Mrs. Adler

27.	Posted by Mya_2412 April 10, 2007
	I would hope that if a child wrote a report about real things and they were to use foul language and sexual content that the teacher would accept it. It is the teacher�s duty to find out what is going on in the child�s life that would make them write about things of that nature. And IF they were being abused and it was the only way they knew to let someone know, it would be in the child�s best interest that the teacher step up and do something about it. So, yes I am sure it would be permitted. The things you say about video games and movies are true, but they are different from books. On video games and movies you can see what is happening and you can hear the foul words. In books, children have a choice to read such foul words in a different way. As in the word fk �fork or a �ask or dk �dork or p*y �poesy. As for the sexual content, if the child isn�t mature enough to read it, then their parents should let the teacher know they don�t want their child reading such material. I don�t have a problem with my child reading such material because I know that she is mature enough to read such things. Also, I have a friend and her child read a book that had content in it about sexual abuse, and it also contained foul language. The book was graphic. This child was able to save a friend from the sexual abuse that was happening in her life. The child was able understand the signs that the friend had because of the book. The girl was taken from her abusive mother and step father. She told my friends child, that if she had to stay in the house a moment longer she would have killed herself. So I think there are times that knowing something that contains sexual abuse/content and even foul language is good if it can give someone the knowledge to see something that they never could before or that no one else might be able to see. The girl is living with a family member and is going to college, something she never thought she would do. Her and my friends child are still friends to this day and she thanks God everyday that someone came to her rescue. In the end, I know that the books that are the "issue" will most likely be banned and that�s life. But I know that if the child wouldn�t have read what they did, the girl wouldn�t be alive now. My family would have had one less person in it. I�m done now arguing about this issue. Whatever happens, will happen and everyone will just have to deal with it. I meant no harm or foul to you or Mrs. Calo or anyone else that I might have offended with what I have said. I wish the best to you and your family.